Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

I had my 120-Series lifted 2" about 11 months ago. At first all was sweet, but then a squeak started to develop on the front driver's side. Took the Prado back and it was 'tinkered with' and was OK again - for about an hour. Lovell's then modified some parts and took the Prado back and these new parts were fitted and all was OK again - for about a week and a half. Now it's squeaking again and I sent a mail to the supplier/fitter and Lovell's themselves. I am yet to hear back, but I'm confident I will...

In the meantime, has anyone else come across this? With Lovell's or anyone else?

When I say squeak, I mean SQUEAK! It's effin' loud... Driving at, say 80km/h on a fairly even black top, but undulating enough to work the suspension up and down a little I can hear it loud and clear with the driver's side window open. And that's over the tyre noise, engine noise, snorkel noise and the noise from my roof rack.

Anyone got any ideas? Where do I stand from a legal point of view as this clearly isn't 'fit for the purpose intended'...?

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

Righto, got a call from my 'local' this morning... Lovell's and my local dealer have categorically told me that this will be resolved, so I am at ease. Still not overly pumped about it having happened in the first place, but life ain't perfect and the promise of after-sales service has got me reassured. Just in case someone is actually interested (!) - I'll keep you folks posted.

Would still like to hear from anyone, who might have come across something similar as this just might help us nail it down.

[raydes Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close raydes]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

Do you have lovels springs and shocks? I would guess at the rubber bushes at the top of the shock are not holding the shock in the middle . The shaft is rubbing on the top mounting plate .

[Chuck Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

Check that the shocky is not loose at the top as that was the problem with a squeak on mine.


Chuck

[Auto-Craft Inactive Find all posts View Profile Close Auto-Craft]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

The biggest thing we see casuing this when fitted elsewhere, is the top locator washer isnt installed correctly, so its "cocked over" and the shock shaft pushes it up and down against the shaft of the shock as it moves in the rubber.

Its very easy if not careful fr this to happen while assembling the strut.

If you bounce the front of the car by hand a small amount it normally squeeks on the up, and down cycle.

If you undo the top of the strut in the car, remove the top rubber and ewasher, and use a small mirror to look down the hole, yo can see it normally.

[Wil Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Wil]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

I had the opposite happen.

We installed lovell shocks and i think dobinson springs and it was a little squesky when it went in but after a week the squeek went away.

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

Do you have lovels springs and shocks? I would guess at the rubber bushes at the top of the shock are not holding the shock in the middle . The shaft is rubbing on the top mounting plate .

Yep, Lovell's coild and shocks - and the squeak does sound like it's caused by rubber... Has that high pitch to it.

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

Check that the shocky is not loose at the top as that was the problem with a squeak on mine.


Chuck

It shouldn't be loose as such... The replacement (re-engineered) parts were only fitted a fortnight ago and I have total confidence in the guys doing the job.

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

The biggest thing we see casuing this when fitted elsewhere, is the top locator washer isnt installed correctly, so its "cocked over" and the shock shaft pushes it up and down against the shaft of the shock as it moves in the rubber.

Its very easy if not careful fr this to happen while assembling the strut.

If you bounce the front of the car by hand a small amount it normally squeeks on the up, and down cycle.

If you undo the top of the strut in the car, remove the top rubber and ewasher, and use a small mirror to look down the hole, yo can see it normally.

This could well be it - the squeak does come in when rocking the car when it's just parked (worse when it's being driven as that creates more travel on the suspension). I suppose any lift will also mean a slight change to the suspension geometry, especially with an IFS set up. Lovell's are sending down a whole new assembly, so it'll all get taken apart and reassembled this coming week. I sure hope this makes it go away...

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

I had the opposite happen.

We installed lovell shocks and i think dobinson springs and it was a little squesky when it went in but after a week the squeek went away.

You lucky SOB!!! :wink:

When I had the original Toyota suspension it was quiet as a mouse. Albeit spongy around corners and off-road - especially when loaded with all my camping/touring gear.

The ride I'm getting out of the Lovell's is great though. Probably best described as firm, but forgiving. This is especially noticeable at the front end.

[chester Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

I know this may be dumb but is it actually the suspension reason i ask it that mine developed a squeak at the GTG but when we got back we found it was not the suspension it was actually the trimmed plastic guard stitting agains the inner bash plate of the ARB bar and rubbung when the suspension goes up and down 2 mins with the scissors and some cable ties and all is quiet

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

I know this may be dumb but is it actually the suspension reason i ask it that mine developed a squeak at the GTG but when we got back we found it was not the suspension it was actually the trimmed plastic guard stitting agains the inner bash plate of the ARB bar and rubbung when the suspension goes up and down 2 mins with the scissors and some cable ties and all is quiet

Not dumb at all Chester - at first that's where I thought it was coming from too. Took the Prado to ARB Brighton and after some crawling under the car it was established that it was indeed the suspension. I have had some different milder plastic-on-metal squeaks come from the plastic guard too, but they're in an entirely different ballpark.

Would you be able to post pics of your cable tie effort regardless?

[chester Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close chester]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

yeah i will take some picks this weekend basically all that i did is to pull the plastic guard out so it is now sitting between the lip of the wing guard and the tyre rather than inside the wing guard and secured to the wing guard with some cable ties to stop it moving (my wing guard has 2 holes already there) but here is the catch.

You have to make the cable ties tight enough so that the guard is not pushed back against the tyre as you drive (had this happen every time i turned left and thought i had done a CV) but loose enought so there is some give for when the suspension works (if it is to tight it simply pulls throught the plastic)

If this does not work i am going to try some 3mm shock cord threaded through to give it some stretch.

No water ingress problem as i had a snorkle fitted by ARB brighton actually (nice guys and know their stuff)

[Deeptank Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Deeptank]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

Thanks for that Chester - I'm pretty sure I know what you mean. If you can post a pic or two that would be great though!

On my driver's side the plastic guard is indeed in front of the lip at the bottom of the bar and has its squeaks. Only yesterday I noticed on the passenger side it must've popped out and is on the tyre side, but not secured... I better get the ol' cable ties out and do the deed. Having said that, the passenger side seems to be a squeak-free zone!

Yep, the ARB Brigton guys are good - got nothing but praise for them. They fixed up all the cock ups done by ARB Dandenong - I started the "ARB bar rusty, not been off-road yet" thread about it all. A mate got me a discount at Dandenong, so I went there even though I live a walking distance from ARB Brighton. Never again... They also fitted my snorkel at Brighton a couple of years ago and all's been sweet as.

[dirtryder Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dirtryder]

Re: Squeaky Lovell's lift!!!

I have this same problem, been putting up with it for ages. It seems Auto-Craft has diagnosed my issue- and upon investigation have found that the top shocky mount is indeed not centralised. This can be checked be visually checking/ feeling that the top rubber mount, washer and nut are centralised with the bolt in mount on top of the strut. If this is not centralised immediate action is required as mine has worn the hole in the shock mount to an oval shape and warn away easily 1/3 the thickness of the shock pin. This could easily lead to a breakage of the shock pin possible with very nasty consequences.

Have now removed both struts and will have to replace them and possibly the shock mount as well. Is this an issue with just lovell springs or is this occuring with other brands of coils?